Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE19396’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by tri-colored flowers and an upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE19396’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE19396’. ‘KLEOE19396’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in August to September 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Osteospermum variety ‘OE-2013-0045’ (unpatented), and the male Osteospermum variety ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’, also known as ‘Balostlueye’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,150).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEOE19396’ was selected from the group of plants in April 2016 in Stuttgart, Germany. In September 2016 in Stuttgart, Germany, ‘KLEOE19396’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative terminal cuttings. ‘KLEOE19396’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative terminal cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Tri-colored flowers; and     -   2. An upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of an 11-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in August 2018. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE19396’. The data which define these characteristics were collected in Stuttgart, Germany in October 2018 on plants that had been planted in February 2018. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis.         -   Common.—Osteospermum.         -   Designation.—‘KLEOE19396’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Osteospermum variety             ‘OE-2013-0045’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The male Osteospermum variety ‘Blue Eyed             Beauty’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,150). -   Plant:     -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated             as an annual; not frost resistant.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Branching habit.—Normal.         -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—35.0 cm.         -   Width (including inflorescences).—50.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings; vegetative terminal tip             cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—9 weeks.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine and white. -   Stems:     -   -   Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base             of the plant).—3.         -   Length.—28.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.7 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144B.         -   Texture.—Smooth, but with fine hairs.         -   Anthocyanin.—RHS 184C. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS             138A.         -   Mature color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS             137C. Length: 4.7 cm. Width: 1.7 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Leathery             with fine hairs.         -   Petioles.—Absent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 137A. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Round-ovoid.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.3 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS             137B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Composite, single.         -   Blooming habit.—Upright, with longer flower stems.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—8.         -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 15             days.         -   Fragrance.—Present, sweet.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—6.0 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—0.7 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—1.2 cm. -   Disc floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 30.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS NN155A. Mature: RHS N155B.         -   Length.—1.7 cm.         -   Diameter (at apex).—0.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Apex color.—RHS 79A.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Base color.—RHS 145D.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Ray floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—24.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 14A (apical), RHS 28A (Middle),             and RHS N79C (basal). Lower surface: Main color RHS 15A with             stripes colored RHS N79A.         -   Length.—2.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth,             shiny. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth with hairs.         -   Color.—RHS 143C. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Observed quantity per flower.—19.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—1.1 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth with fine hairs. Lower             surface: Smooth.         -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 143B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Location: On disc and ray florets. Stamens:             Shape: Filamentous. Quantity: Numerous, 30 to 50. Filament             length: 0.8 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape:             Lanceolate. Color: RHS N77A. Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter:             Greater than 0.1 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 17A. Amount: Sparse.         -   Gynoecium.—Location: On the phyllary. Pistils: Number:             Numerous, 30 to 50. Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.             Stigma: Color: RHS 79A. Shape: Tapering filamentous and             split in two parts. Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: Greater than             0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 155A. Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter:             Greater than 0.1 cm. -   Seed:     -   -   Color.—RHS 200D.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEOE19396’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEOE19396’ ‘OE-2013-0045’ ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ Flower Color Tri-colored Bi-colored Bi-colored Branching Good Good Medium

‘KLEOE19396’ is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety ‘KLEO13209’. Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEOE19396’ ‘KLEO13209' Flower color Tri-colored Bi-colored Branching Good Less than ‘KLEOE19396’ Summer performance Till autumn Less flowers than ‘KLEOE19396’ at autumn 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated ‘KLEOE19396’ as illustrated and described herein. 